Recovery and nursing gown

ABSTRACT

A patient nursing and recovery gown includes a front portion including closable infant nursing openings covered by privacy panels. The front and back portions each include a top seam at which the front and back portion are joined by re-closable fasteners. The front portion further includes a closable access panel.

BACKGROUND

Numerous types of patient recovery gowns are in use in hospitals and other medical facilities. Typically, patients staying in a hospital are provided with a gown, as patient apparel, by the hospital. Gowns commonly have a number of different openings allowing access to the patient for procedures, while also allowing some modicum of privacy.

Several types of infant nursing gowns allow new mothers to nurse newborn infants while recovering from the birth process. Again, in many designs, an effort is made to provide some privacy for the mother during the nursing process, while also allowing easy access to the breast for the nursing process.

SUMMARY

A patient nursing and recovery gown which combines unique accessibility and privacy is provided. The gown includes a front portion including closable infant nursing openings covered by privacy panels. The front and back portions each include a top seam at which the front and back portion are joined by re-closable fasteners. The front portion further includes a closable access panel.

In a further aspect, a garment comprising a gown is disclosed. The gown has a top edge and a bottom edge, and a first sleeve and a second sleeve. Each sleeve includes a plurality of re-closable fasteners joining a top seam of a front portion of the sleeve to a back portion of the sleeve. The front of the gown includes nursing openings and pleats covering the openings. A center access panel is defined on a first side by the first opening and on the second side by the second opening. The access panel has a top portion including a plurality of re-closable fasteners at a top edge of the panel.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a first, closed view of a patient nursing and recovery gown.

FIG. 2 depicts a second view of the patient nursing and recovery gown illustrating the nursing panel pulled aside to expose a breast for nursing.

FIG. 3 depicts a third view of a patient nursing and recovery gown illustrating the front access panel open.

FIG. 4 depicts an open, enlarged nursing panel.

FIG. 5 depicts an alternative embodiment of a patient nursing and recovery gown.

FIG. 6 depicts a back view of the patient nursing and recovery gown.

FIG. 7 depicts a second alternative of a back view of a patient nursing and recovery gown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A patient nursing and recovery gown which combines unique accessibility and privacy elements is provided. The gown includes a front portion including closable infant nursing apertures covered by privacy pleats. The front and back portions each include a top seam at which the front and back portion are joined by re-closable fasteners. The front portion further includes a closable torso access panel. The gown provides superior privacy for the patient while allowing access to various portions of the patient's body during treatment.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a gown 100 which includes a front portion 102 and a rear portion 104 (FIG. 4, FIG. 6), a top portion 110 defined by a closable seam 111, a bottom portion 167 defined by a seam 168, a first sleeve 125 a and a second sleeve 125 b, each having an end seam 127 a and 127 b, respectively. The front and back sections are coupled by double-needle cover stitch side seams 105 a and 105 b (FIG. 6). Each is also coupled to sleeve 125 a and 125 b. Gown 100 may be manufactured from a fabric comprising cotton or a cotton blend, or any of a number of synthetic fabrics. It should be understood that while double-needle cover stitching is specified, other types of stitching may be used. As illustrated in the Figures, single needle stitching is used for neck seam 105, seams 127 a and 127 b and bottom seam 168. Each such seam may comprise double needle stitching or other forms of stitching.

The front portion 102 includes a yoke section 102 a and a main front body section 102 b. The main front body section 102 b includes a first nursing aperture 140 and a second nursing aperture 142 covered by box pleats 170 and 172, respectively. Each aperture is formed by a first seam 168 a, 168 b and second seam 169 a, 169 b (shown in FIG. 3). It should be recognized that while each aperture appears as a slit when closed, the size and shape of each aperture 140, 142 may vary.

Each box pleat is formed by supplying sufficient fabric to provide a folded layer of material (folded over to form each pleat) over each respective aperture and the material surrounding the apertures. This allows the apertures 140, 142 to be covered. Double needle stitching at seam 145 secures the fold of each pleat and the main section 102 b to the yoke 102 a. The front yoke 102 a and main front body section 102 b are coupled to the sleeves 125 a and 125 b at seams 115 a and 115 b respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the apertures and pleats allow exposure of a patient's breast 50 to allow an infant to nurse while maintaining complete privacy of the other areas of a patient's body. The nature of the pleats allows the existence of the apertures to be hidden until breast exposure is required. One, two or any number of closures, or re-closable fasteners such as snaps, may be placed to secure the apertures when closed. Optionally, no closures need be used. Each closure may comprise a projection or “male” portion and a respective receiving section which secures the projection portion in place. Each protection portion is generally positioned across from its counterpart receiving section, allowing the fastener to be closed. It will be recognized that any form of closure may be used, including snaps, ties, clips, buttons or other known fasteners.

Main section 102 b also includes an access panel 150, comprising a portion of the fabric defined on a first side by seam 168 a (aperture 140) and a second side by seam 168 b (aperture 142). The top of the panel is secured to the yoke 102 a by closures 162, 163, 164, 166 along a top seam 160. Seam 160 may be provided with a twill tape backing material and one portion (male or female) of the snaps, while a lower portion of yoke 102 a along seam 145 includes the male portion of the snaps. It will be recognized that any form of closure or fastener may be used to secure the access panel.

FIG. 3 shows the access panel 150 in an opened state. It will be recognized that during use the panel need not be fully opened as depicted in FIG. 3, and that the use of one to four snaps along seam 160 allows varying degrees of openness for the panel. Thus, the panel need only be opened to the degree necessary to perform procedures on a patient, leaving the balance of the panel closed for privacy. Access panel 150 is defined at a lower edge by a fold 165 when the panel 150 is in a fully opened state as shown in FIG. 3. The size of the access panel may likewise vary.

A unique feature of the access panel 150 in the opened or partially opened state is that it may be used to wrap an infant. This is particularly when nursing or holding an infant. FIG. 4 illustrates the access panel uncoupled from closures 162, 163, 164, 166. In this uncoupled state, the panel can cover or wrap around an infant. It should be noted that the panel may be sized and made of sufficient material to cover and/or surround a newborn infant human being.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, further selective access to a patient is provided by selectively opening the fasteners at the top end 110 of the gown. The top opening portion is formed by back portion 104, sleeves 125 a and 125 b and yoke 102 a. A top seam 111 is formed by applying twill tape on the edge of each respective seam, into which fasteners 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, and 130 are provided, and applying double needle cover stitching 135. Again, alternative forms of stitching may be utilized. In FIG. 1, five fasteners per shoulder and sleeve are used. However more or fewer fasteners may be uses as needed depending on the overall size of the gown. As shown in FIG. 5, one or more of the fasteners can be opened to selectively allow treatment to a patient wearing the gown. The left and right sleeves are symmetrical, so that one may close the sleeves by mating each projection portion of a closure with its counterpart receiving. In a one embodiment, five snap closures are provided each shoulder and sleeve, though more or fewer closures, and alternative types of closures may be utilized.

While FIGS. 1-5 show a garment with a plurality of fasteners on the top seam 111, in an alternative embodiment, the top seam 111 is sewn without fasteners to join the respective front 102 and back 104 portions.

A neck opening 105 is made wide enough that a human head can comfortably fit through, eliminating the need to unfasten one or more snaps to allow the gown to be put on. The gown may be manufactured in different sizes. The gown should be appropriately sized in length to extend to the thighs of the patient. The gown should be appropriate sized in width to allow the pleats to fold generally vertically along the midsection of a patient. Exemplary dimensions include; a chest width, measured 1″ below the armhole total (with pleat folded) of about 48″ and a front length from the front length seam high point shoulder 106 to bottom hem 168 of about 43⅝″.

As discussed herein, seams 105, 125, 168, 169, 145, and 115 are formed by double fold, coverstitch binding. However, alternative forms of stitching may be used. Seam joints may be bar tacked for comfort. Various numbers and types of fasteners may be used. In one embodiment, fastener spacing at the top seam 111 is 3.5 inches, but alternative spacing may be used.

A pocket 180 may be affixed to pleat 172. It will be recognized that the pocket may be attached by any of a number of conventional stitching methods and may be sized appropriately for use in holding hospital telemetry.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, back portion 104 may be made of a single solid piece of material coupled to sleeves 125 a and 125 b. This is generally referred to as a closed back design. FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative, open back design wherein back 104 is comprised of portion 104A and portion 104 b. A top seam 190 is coupled at a tie 192 to secure overlapping portion 104 b over portion 104 a. The open back design allows medical personnel additional access to the patient.

The gown disclosed herein allows medical personnel to examine and/or treat a patient easily and conveniently by unsnapping any of the various closures and fold back any of the various openings; in addition, a nursing mother is provided with the convenience and privacy of the nursing apertures and pleat covers.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. 

1. A garment, comprising: a gown having a top edge and a bottom edge, a first and a second nursing openings positioned on the front portion; a first pleat associated with and covering the first opening and a second pleat associated with and covering the second opening; and an access panel defined on a first side by the first opening and on the second side by the second opening, the access panel having a top portion including a plurality of re-closable fasteners at a top edge of the panel.
 2. The garment of claim 1 wherein gown comprises a front portion and a back portion, a top edge and a bottom edge.
 3. The garment of claim 1 wherein the front portion is joined at said top edge by said plurality of re-closable fasteners.
 4. The garment of claim 1 wherein the re-closable fasteners are one of snaps, buttons, ties or clips.
 5. The garment of claim 1 wherein each opening comprises an aperture.
 6. The garment of claim 1 wherein each aperture includes at least one re-closable fastener.
 7. The garment of claim 1 wherein the access panel is made of material of a quantity sufficient to surround an infant.
 8. The garment of claim 1 wherein the garment further includes a first sleeve and a second sleeve, each sleeve including a plurality of re-closable fasteners joining a top seam of a front portion of the sleeve to a back portion of the sleeve;
 9. A nursing and recovery gown, comprising: a gown body including a front portion and a back portion, a top edge and a bottom edge, the top edge including a neck opening; a first and a second nursing apertures positioned on the front portion; a first pleat associated with and covering the first aperture on the front portion and a second pleat associated with and covering the second aperture; and an access panel defined on a first side by the first aperture and on the second side by the second aperture, the access panel having a top portion including a plurality of closures positioned in the front portion a distance below the neck opening.
 10. The garment of claim 9 wherein the front portion comprises a yoke portion and a main portion, and the top portion of the access panel is positioned at a bottom end of the yoke when in a closed position.
 11. The garment of claim 9 wherein the re-closable fasteners are one of snaps, buttons, ties or clips.
 12. The garment of claim 9 wherein each aperture comprises a slit defined by a first seam and a second seam extending from the yoke toward the bottom edge of the gown.
 13. The garment of claim 12 wherein each aperture includes at least one re-closable fastener.
 14. The garment of claim 9 wherein the access panel is made of material of a quantity sufficient to surround an infant.
 15. The garment of claim 9 further including a first sleeve and a second sleeve adjacent to the top edge of the body, each sleeve including an opening sufficient for a human arm to pass through.
 16. The garment of claim 9 further including a plurality of closures positioned adjacent to the top edge of the front and back portions, the closures joining the front and back portions.
 17. A garment, comprising: a gown including a front portion and a back portion, a top edge and a bottom edge, a first sleeve and a second sleeve, each sleeve including an opening sufficient for a human arm to pass through, the top edge including a neck opening and a plurality of fasteners joining the front portion to the back portion at said top edge; a first and a second nursing apertures positioned on the front portion; a first pleat associated with and covering the first aperture on the front portion and a second pleat associated with and covering the second aperture; and an access panel defined on a first side by the first aperture and on the second side by the second aperture, the access panel having a top portion including a plurality of closures positioned in the front portion a distance below the neck opening.
 18. The garment of claim 17 wherein the front portion comprises a yoke portion and a main portion, and the top portion of the access panel is positioned at a bottom end of the yoke when in a closed position, and each aperture comprises a slit defined by a first seam and a second seam extending from the yoke toward the bottom edge of the gown.
 19. The garment of claim 18 wherein the access panel is made of material of a quantity sufficient to surround an infant.
 20. The garment of claim 19 wherein each aperture includes at least one re-closable fastener. 